I assume the Kenyan military will be sending planes to patrol over the Twin Cities, looking for Al-Shabab militants. Or perhaps we can lend them some drones.

Yes, there will be some Americans killed as a result - it's war, and collateral damage happens. But I'm sure most Kenyans will agree that if it keeps the terrorists from blowing up their child, any number of American lives is worth it. If Americans don't like it, then they shouldn't be harboring these terrorists.

neversubmit:FTFA: Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by al-Shabab - an Islamist group based in neighbouring Somalia, which is part of the al-Qaeda network.

I wonder if they know they are a part of that network.

A cynical person might suspect our leaders roll up all militant groups they don't like into "the al-Qaeda network" to make the enemy seem more frightening and capable than they actually are.

I mean, we're talking about, maybe, 20,000 fighters from a wide range of national, ethnic and tribal groups who run a coordinated operation across a VAST area consisting of half of North Africa, most of the Middle East and a good portion of Central Asia despite very difficult communication channels and the fact very few members have met few, if any, members outside their immediate group.

Target Builder:neversubmit: FTFA: Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by al-Shabab - an Islamist group based in neighbouring Somalia, which is part of the al-Qaeda network.

I wonder if they know they are a part of that network.

A cynical person might suspect our leaders roll up all militant groups they don't like into "the al-Qaeda network" to make the enemy seem more frightening and capable than they actually are.

I mean, we're talking about, maybe, 20,000 fighters from a wide range of national, ethnic and tribal groups who run a coordinated operation across a VAST area consisting of half of North Africa, most of the Middle East and a good portion of Central Asia despite very difficult communication channels and the fact very few members have met few, if any, members outside their immediate group.

Or, the Al Qaeda brand has some draw, and the militants are using it the way gas station franchise owners put "Exxon" on their gas station, even though Exxon neither owns the station nor even provides them the gasoline they sell.

Ricardo Klement:Target Builder: neversubmit: FTFA: Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by al-Shabab - an Islamist group based in neighbouring Somalia, which is part of the al-Qaeda network.

I wonder if they know they are a part of that network.

A cynical person might suspect our leaders roll up all militant groups they don't like into "the al-Qaeda network" to make the enemy seem more frightening and capable than they actually are.

I mean, we're talking about, maybe, 20,000 fighters from a wide range of national, ethnic and tribal groups who run a coordinated operation across a VAST area consisting of half of North Africa, most of the Middle East and a good portion of Central Asia despite very difficult communication channels and the fact very few members have met few, if any, members outside their immediate group.

Or, the Al Qaeda brand has some draw, and the militants are using it the way gas station franchise owners put "Exxon" on their gas station, even though Exxon neither owns the station nor even provides them the gasoline they sell.

It's as easy as forming a Brownie Troop, I imagine.Get some literature together and sew a few vests.

Ricardo Klement:Target Builder: neversubmit: FTFA: Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by al-Shabab - an Islamist group based in neighbouring Somalia, which is part of the al-Qaeda network.

I wonder if they know they are a part of that network.

A cynical person might suspect our leaders roll up all militant groups they don't like into "the al-Qaeda network" to make the enemy seem more frightening and capable than they actually are.

I mean, we're talking about, maybe, 20,000 fighters from a wide range of national, ethnic and tribal groups who run a coordinated operation across a VAST area consisting of half of North Africa, most of the Middle East and a good portion of Central Asia despite very difficult communication channels and the fact very few members have met few, if any, members outside their immediate group.

Or, the Al Qaeda brand has some draw, and the militants are using it the way gas station franchise owners put "Exxon" on their gas station, even though Exxon neither owns the station nor even provides them the gasoline they sell.

Or, Al Queda wants their brand to look like it has more reach than it does, and they are claiming militant groups that are not really a part of their network.

DeaH:Ricardo Klement: Target Builder: neversubmit: FTFA: Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by al-Shabab - an Islamist group based in neighbouring Somalia, which is part of the al-Qaeda network.

I wonder if they know they are a part of that network.

A cynical person might suspect our leaders roll up all militant groups they don't like into "the al-Qaeda network" to make the enemy seem more frightening and capable than they actually are.

I mean, we're talking about, maybe, 20,000 fighters from a wide range of national, ethnic and tribal groups who run a coordinated operation across a VAST area consisting of half of North Africa, most of the Middle East and a good portion of Central Asia despite very difficult communication channels and the fact very few members have met few, if any, members outside their immediate group.

Or, the Al Qaeda brand has some draw, and the militants are using it the way gas station franchise owners put "Exxon" on their gas station, even though Exxon neither owns the station nor even provides them the gasoline they sell.

Or, Al Queda wants their brand to look like it has more reach than it does, and they are claiming militant groups that are not really a part of their network.

The militant groups tend not to refute those claims. They like sounding like they're part of an undefeatable whole.

MisterRonbo:I assume the Kenyan military will be sending planes to patrol over the Twin Cities, looking for Al-Shabab militants. Or perhaps we can lend them some drones.

Yes, there will be some Americans killed as a result - it's war, and collateral damage happens. But I'm sure most Kenyans will agree that if it keeps the terrorists from blowing up their child, any number of American lives is worth it. If Americans don't like it, then they shouldn't be harboring these terrorists.